Games on Society: Playable Anxieties

Abstract

The two games analysed here—Mafia III (2016) and Gone Home (2013)—provide a counterpoint to the general debates surrounding problematic representation in games, with soundtracks that provide connections to historical progressive movements. From the American culture of the 1960s to third- and fourth-wave feminism, the popular music in these games draws connections that invite their players to reflect on sociocultural issues. This chapter examines the representation of race, gender, and LGBT issues in these two games through their music, and how it relates to issues of intersectionality.